Faculty

Benjamin Katz

Benjamin Katz has been a bodywork practitioner since 1990, and has been teaching nationally and internationally since 2005. His methods are grounded in his studies with leading European and American Osteopaths and enhanced by the knowledge he has gained from his clinical experiences. His courses offer an anatomically specific, open sourced modality suited to the needs of the beginner and advanced practitioner alike.

Beth Youngdoff

Beth Youngdoff is a California CMT and an MTI graduate. She began her massage career in a chiropractic office while still in school, and opened Floating Lotus, a private women's wellness practice, in 2016. She holds a BA in Management and was a professional dancer and instructor for 30 years. A lifetime student of meditation and spiritual healing, she became a Reiki practitioner after retiring from "real" work and completed a year-long Reiki Master/Instructor program in 2013 under Sensei Amy Yoshida of the Usui Method of Natural Healing.

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Brad Wathen is a Lomi Associate and has been a massage therapist since 1989. Brad received his Lomi Associate credential in somatic education in 1993 and continued in advanced studies with the Lomi school. He continues to develop his work and currently has a practice in Nevada City.

Carolyn Cohen

Carolyn Cohen is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Certified Massage Therapist. Her practice is dedicated to working holistically with the body. From bones, fascia and organ function to the worldly impacts on the body (including stress and repetitive movement), she addresses immediate issues and builds a program of care and support to move one's constitution into balance. She holds a Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine, has extensive training from the healing traditions of Thai massage, Tui Na and Chi Nei Tsang. She also co-authored the therapeutic pillar of AcroYoga International's curriculum for teachers and practitioners.

Georgia Ramos

Georgia Ramos has a background in anatomy and physiology from UC Davis where she worked for 7 years in the veterinary school. She came to bodywork out of necessity to address her many injuries. She was able to prevent spinal fusion surgery in her neck as a direct result from receiving outstanding bodywork and implementing a self-care routine, so she decided she wanted to pay it forward and help others gain pain-relief and physical freedom. She also has a background in art and psychology, which she feels has given her a unique way of approaching healing and growth. She was trained at MTI before going on to become an anatomy instructor, and then director and owner. Her passion is in educating people in how they can use self-care and communication to the benefit of bodywork and the quality of life.

Jenna Frisch

Jenna Frisch is a Certified Massage Therapist and educator, Qigong practitioner and creative writing facilitator. She is passionate about the depths and dynamics of self-expression. Her relationship to the healing arts began with her own questions of how to be well in the world and she believes that health is the harmony and balance of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

Jim Berns

Jim Berns is a Registered Ortho-Bionomy® Advanced Instructor and Senior Practitioner. He has been trained directly by the founder, English Osteopath, Dr. Arthur Lincoln Pauls D.O. Jim has been a Registered Instructor and Practitioner since 1980, and has taught Ortho-Bionomy internationally and throughout the United States. He is co-author with Kathy Kain of the book Ortho-Bionomy A Practical Manual (North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, Ca.) which has sold over 10,000 copies. Jim has been a Certified Massage Therapist since 1979 and has taught classes at numerous massage schools throughout the country.

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Jim Gilkeson has been a bodyworker and instructor of subtle energy work since 1983. He is the author of Energy Healing: A Pathway to Inner Growth and "A Prilgrim in YOur Body: Energy Healing and Spiritual Process", as well as a monthly internet newsletter. He currently practices at Harbin Hot Springs and in San Anselmo, specializing in creative combinations of subtle energy therapy, craniosacral therapy and massage.

Judy Terwilliger

Judy Terwilliger is a Registered Nurse of 40 years, concurrently a Certified Massage Therapist and Functional Mobility Specialist for 17 years. She maintains a broad base of practice spanning four decades. Currently she oversees a busy pain management practice in Sacramento CA, and works extensively with rehabilitation physicians, pediatric healthcare practitioners and other allied health care specialists to effect therapeutic change across a broad range of myofascial/muscle pattern dysfunctions. From infants to seniors she promotes functional mobility, focusing on a wellness paradigm, therapeutically utilizing a tensegrity-based modality that she has developed and teaches nationwide called The Functional Bowen Method™. It is uniquely focused on affecting fascial change where disruption of any kind has impacted muscle pliability, response and flexibility.

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Kathleen Davis is credentialed through the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley. In addition to teaching Acupressure and Tai Chi, she continues to study the traditional Chinese theory of health and the healing art of Jin Shin Jyutsu. She maintains a private practice in which she integrates Chinese Tui Na massage and JinShin Jyutsu.

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Larry Munn is a certified massage and bodywork professional with a private practice in Berkeley and San Rafael. Larry specializes in Neuromuscular Reprogramming and Advanced Soft and Deep Tissue protocols. He is a well known and sought after instructor in Northern California. Larry teaches a broad range of massage therapy and anatomy classes.

Leslie Steger

Leslie Steger is a Registered Nurse and has been supporting women's health and innate wisdom as a labor & delivery nurse, wilderness rites of passage guide, doula and massage therapist and educator since 1984. She teaches worldwide, has a private bodywork practice in Nevada City, CA and is a nurse with the local Hospice. She is the author of Nurturing Massage for Pregnancy and co-producer of MotherTouch education videos, Mastering Pregnancy Massage. She is an NCBTMB Approved Provider for continuing education and offers advanced certifications within Mothertouch Massage focused on Pregnancy, Birth, Postpartum, Menstruation, Fertility, Breast Health and Pelvic Floor Concerns.

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Lucy Rush is the owner of Chairgonomics, Inc., a company that provides corporate chair massage, ergonomic consultation, and wellness classes. She has been a professional massage therapist since 1978 and a massage instructor since 1989 in the U.S. and abroad. Lucy specializes in lymphatic techniques as well as Swedish and subtle touch modalities in her massage practice. She also holds a B.A. in dance and is passionate about body mechanics for the massage therapist.

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Marty Morales is a Certified Rolfer, Rolf Movement Practitioner, and massage therapy instructor. He has been in private practice since 2003 and has a broad base of experience, from clinical work to spa massage. He trained in a variety of styles including, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, Reiki, and Cranial Sacral.  Marty's bodywork instruction ranges from beginning massage therapy courses to advanced Structural Bodywork. He also consults and trains at individual spas in San Francisco. He is currently working on a book on Body Mechanics and is an experienced speaker and business coach.

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Merlita Bautista-Knecht holds a BA in Social Work and she graduated in 1999 from National Holistic Institute in Emeryville, Ca. She has since been working professionally in the community offering massage therapy in chiropractic clinics, spa settings and wellness programs. She has been an instructor since 2003 teaching numerous therapies, including Lomi Lomi, Deep Tissue Neuromuscular and Aromatherapy.

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Robin Varga has trained in Reflexology with Bill Flocco and has been teaching classes in northern California for many years. Robin;s skill combined with the experence of her full time practice in the Bay Area gives her classes a depth and breadth which helps your learning to be practical as well as enjoyable and deeply rewarding.

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Sharon Oshita is a massage therapist and spa manager. She has a master's degree in exercise and sport science, and she is an athletic trainer. She has a broad knowledge base including Anatomy, pathology, injury prevention, management and rehabilitation.

 


 

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